Transferring control of a business presence on Meta platforms requires understanding the complex hierarchy of access and permissions. This guide clarifies the necessary distinctions between different access levels and provides an actionable roadmap for successfully transferring the ownership of a business’s Facebook Page and its associated assets.
The Difference Between Page Roles and Business Manager Ownership
Understanding the difference between administering a Page and owning the Business Manager account is the foundation for a successful transfer. A Facebook Page is the public-facing profile controlled by users assigned a Page Role, such as Admin. Assigning a Page Admin grants the ability to post content, respond to messages, and manage basic Page settings.
The Business Manager, often called Meta Business Suite, is a centralized container that holds and controls all business assets, including the Page, Ad Accounts, Instagram profiles, and Catalogs. The Primary Owner of the Business Manager has the highest authority, managing billing, assigning all permissions, and removing assets. True ownership resides at this level, meaning a complete transfer requires changing the primary Business Manager owner, not just the Page Admin.
Essential Prerequisites for Ownership Transfer
Before initiating any transfer, the current user must verify they possess the necessary administrative authority. The person executing the transfer must have “Full Control” or Admin access within both the Page settings and the Business Manager account. Attempting a transfer without these elevated permissions will result in an immediate roadblock.
The new owner must have an active personal Facebook profile added to the Business Manager as a user. Security protocols require the new user to be connected as an Admin for a minimum number of days, usually seven, before they are eligible to receive Primary Owner status. This waiting period safeguards against unauthorized ownership changes.
How to Add and Assign Page Admin Roles
Adding an individual as an administrator directly to the Page grants access to content management. This process is managed through the Meta Business Suite interface under the “New Pages Experience” settings. Navigate to the Page Access section and select the option to add a new person with Facebook access.
Search for the user by name or email address and select the “Full Control” option to grant the highest Page permissions. The system sends an invitation that the new Page Admin must accept. Granting this access permits them to manage content and create ads, but it does not transfer ownership of the Business Manager account or its other assets.
This method is suitable for delegating day-to-day social media tasks to an employee or agency. However, if the intent is to fully hand over the business entity, including Ad Accounts, merely assigning a Page role is insufficient. A complete transfer requires moving the Page and its associated assets to a different Business Manager.
Transferring Primary Ownership of the Business Manager
Transferring primary Business Manager ownership grants a new user complete control over all associated assets. This process begins within the Business Settings section of the Meta Business Suite on a desktop computer. The current owner must first ensure the new person is already an Admin within the Business Manager under the Users and People section.
Once the new owner has accepted the Admin invitation and the waiting period has passed, the current Primary Owner can initiate the transfer. There are two primary methods for transfer.
Releasing the Page Asset
The cleanest method for a complete handover is for the current Business Manager to release the Page asset so a new Business Manager can claim it. This is done by navigating to the Pages section under Accounts in Business Settings, selecting the Page, and choosing the option to remove it from the Business Manager.
Changing Owner Within the Same Business Manager
If the goal is to change the Primary Owner within the same Business Manager account, the current owner must go to Business Settings and select the “People” tab. Choose the new Admin and use the controls to designate them as the new Primary Owner. Meta requires confirmation and often password re-entry for security verification. This action is irreversible and transfers master control of all linked assets.
What to Do If the Original Owner is Unavailable
A challenging situation arises when the original Primary Owner, such as a former employee or agency, is unavailable to complete the transfer. The user seeking ownership must engage directly with Meta support through a formal ownership dispute process. This involves using the “Request Access” or “Claim Ownership” features within the Meta Business Suite, which prompts a request for documentation.
To prove legitimate business ownership, Meta requires a collection of legal documents:
- A government-issued photo ID of the requester.
- A signed and notarized statement outlining the relationship to the Page.
- Official business documentation, such as a business license or utility bill showing the company name and address.
This process is time-consuming, as it depends on Meta’s internal team reviewing the submitted evidence. Bypassing an unresponsive original owner requires providing sufficient legal proof that your entity is the rightful owner of the business represented by the Page.